Training Tips - Stop a Dog Eating Poo | Dogs and Puppies

It's a nightmare for any dog owner - when, for reasons unknown, a dog starts eating faeces. It’s not only hard to fathom – it can also be a potential danger to the dog’s health. Read this article to learn how to train a dog not to eat poo, as this behaviour needs to be nipped in the bud quickly.

Stop a Dog Eating Poo – How to Combat the Problem

This behaviour is something that humans just can’t get their heads around – why an earth do dogs enjoy eating faeces? Well believe it or not, there’s actually a medical condition prevalent in dogs that can explain this behaviour – it’s called dog coprophagia, and it means that dogs actually quite enjoy the taste of excrement.

There are numerous reasons why a dog may indulge in this kind of behaviour – one of the most common is simply boredom. Think of humans stuck in a traffic jam reaching for the bag of crisps – eating to fill the void. A dog can replicate this behaviour with faeces. Therefore, make sure there is plenty for the dog to do on a walk to distract him from the presence of faeces. If the dog spots waste on the ground and expresses an interest, use a ball or Frisbee to divert his attention.

Another reason why dogs eat faeces is to build up the immune system – so if you have more than one dog, try and keep them separate if one feels a little under the weather, as the healthy dog may build up an unnaturally healthy interest in his companion’s faeces.

Make alterations to the dog’s feeding schedule – it’s thought that integrating food additives into the daily diet can make the taste of poo less alluring for dogs - thus curbing the behaviour.

Finally, if the problem is really beginning to irritate you, carry a waste bag with you at all times when you’re out with the dog and remove both your pet’s waste and any faeces that your dog may attempt to eat. It’s not exactly the most glamorous task in the world, but it’s the simplest way to stop a dog eating faeces on a daily basis.